Page 14 - October 2025 - Truth & Tidings

The Chastening to Be Endured hand of the throne of God” (vv2-3 NASB).
(12:4-13) Herein lies the key to understanding the
exhortation (12:1-24) and warning (12:25-
It is evident the writer to the Hebrews 29). Suffering forms part of our Father’s
is eager for his beloved brethren in Christ preparatory discipline “in bringing many
to press on in the faith. He has proven that sons unto glory” (2:10). This principle is
the spiritual realities they obtained by set forth throughout Scripture and is ap-
faith are “better” and infinitely superior plied to both the Son of God and the sons
to the physical shadows they had left (eg., of God, to make each “perfect” and thus
8:5-6; 10:1; 11:40). Their eternal redemp- fitted for future honour, authority and
tion, eternal Priest and eternal inheritance responsibility.
– the incomprehensible prospect of shar- Concerning the Son of God, He always
ing with the Son of God His kingdom was, is, and forever will be perfect in His
and glory – were all part of the “so great essential being (1:3), moral character (1:9;
salvation” belonging to “holy brethren, 4:15; 7:26) and eternal relationship with
partakers of the heavenly calling” (2:3; the Father (1:5). However, the writer ex-
3:1). By faith, they must (1) not lose plains in 2:10 that it was fitting “to make
1
sight of the glorious, although invisible, the captain of [our] salvation perfect
spiritual realities set before them, and (2) [teleióo, to complete, fulfil, finish] through
remain obedient to what they heard from sufferings.” This thought is developed in
God. And so must we. 5:8-9, where the writer says Christ, as Son,
They must also develop “endurance in “learned ... obedience by the things which
order that, having done the will of God, he suffered.” He was always the obedient
[they] may receive the promise” (10:36 One, but He learned through human ex-
JND). While the Hebrews had already “en- perience the nature and extent of suffering
dured” persecution (10:32-34), the writer that obedience entails, so that He would
is mindful that sustained persecution be perfectly fitted to be (1) the “source of
might result in their becoming weary and eternal salvation to all who obey him”
despondent in soul (12:3). To strengthen (5:9 ESV) and (2) “able to help those who
them against giving up and turning away, are being tempted” under suffering (2:18
the writer exhorts them to “consider Him ESV). Moreover, our Lord Jesus Christ has
been highly exalted and glorified because
who has endured” – He who “endured of His sufferings on earth (eg., Isa 53:12;
the cross ... and has sat down at the right Php 2:8-9).

1 Bible quotations in this article are from the KJV Our positional perfection, of which the
unless otherwise noted. writer mentions sanctification, remission

302 TRUTH kTidings October 2025